Oh my love, my darling, I hunger for your touch...
Anyone alive in the 90s would have immediately sung those lyrics in their head, largely due to the incredible performances of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the hit film Ghost (forget Robson and Jerome for a minute).
Who can forget the chemistry? The sizzling scenes featuring bare chests and that pottery wheel scene? Obviously, following up on such a moving and iconic film, converting it to a musical and bringing it to the stage could potentially be full of pitfalls.
On-screen, you can use CGI trickery to make things look supernatural; however, how can that translate to the stage? Thankfully, with a few clever uses of set and tricks of the eye, the show came to life on stage at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton for the first night of a five-night run.
The main character Molly Jenson is played by Rebekah Lowings, who belts out classics such as With You with huge vocals; Sam Wheat is played by Josh St Clair, who pulls off the frustration felt by Sam with great drama.
We follow their love story, getting a look at their hopes and dreams in the first half before it's all cut short when a dramatic street robbery goes wrong.
The story's villain, Carl Bruner, played by James Mateo-Salt, masquerades as a friend - before the plot twists, and we find out that his intentions are not that pure.
Mateo-Salt pulls off the cretinous character so well that, in true villain style, he received a boo from the audience at the end.
DuBois brought such great energy and comedy to the play, channelling her inner Whoopi Goldberg, clearly displaying the skill and talent that has seen her appear in so many performances and shows that her bio nearly needs an extra column in the programme. A true star.
Overall, the story runs the same as the movie, so if you've seen the film, you'll know what's next - however, surprisingly, it also works as a musical. The songs don't feel forced; nobody bursts into song and dance at inappropriate moments of the plot; it's just a genuinely good story that's been enhanced by some musical numbers.
The whole show - 2 hours 20 mins including interval - keeps its audience entertained throughout. It's certainly not for kids, it's a very adult play, and has a romantic theme that's ideal for a Valentine's night out.
Ghost the Musical runs at Mayflower Theatre until February 15. Tickets start from £29.50. To book go to mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/ghost-the-musical-2025/
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